Sunday, 25 April 2021

Alternate Best Actor 1980

And the Nominees Were Not:

Richard Dreyfuss in The Competition
 
Naseeruddin Shah in Sparsh
 
Al Pacino in Cruising
 
John Savage in Inside Moves
 
Anthony Quinn in Lion of the Desert

86 comments:

Louis Morgan said...

Have a good night ladies and gents, here's the lineup. I'll be going to sleep with a smile on my face thanks to the best actor win (and really a lot of the wins).

Matt Mustin said...

So Soderbergh was completely banking on Boseman winning, right?

Emi Grant said...

That's two of us, Louis. Hopkins winning just made my night, and maybe my entire week.


1. Quinn
2. Dreyfuss
3. Pacino
4. Savage
5. Shah

J96 said...

I feel bad for Chadwick but congrats to Tony for joining the double winners club. This was a weird ceremony, for Best Actor to be last, I would think that would mean that Chad would win. Strange.

Louis Morgan said...

J96 & Matt:

100% the producers thought Boseman was winning I guess it just goes to show the accountants really are the only ones who know the winners.

GM said...

1. Savage
2. Shah
3. Dreyfuss
4. Quinn
5. Pacino

Recommendations:

Ken Takakura and Chieko Baisho, A Distant Cry From Spring
Michel Piccoli, A Leap in the Dark
Christopher Walken, The Dogs of War
Catherine Deneuve, The Last Metro
Simone Signoret, I Sent a Letter to My Love
Ildikó Bánsági, Confidence
John Gielgud, The Conductor
Michael Emil, Sitting Ducks
Bill Murray, Where the Buffalo Roam
Paul Newman, Fort Apache, the Bronx
Richard Farnsworth, Tom Horn
Ellen Burstyn, Eva La Gallienne & Richard Farnsworth, Ressurection
Ned Beatty & Walter Matthau, Hopscotch
Scott Wilson & Stacy Keach, The Ninth Configuration

Anonymous said...

I think that decision to put BP before Actress and Actor kinda proves that the producers truly don't know what the winners will be; Soderbergh and co. were clearly expecting a Day/Davis and Boseman combo, or at least Boseman, and in the end we got 2 great, but anticlimatic wins.

Aidan Pittman said...

1. Quinn
2. Dreyfuss
4. Savage
4. Pacino
5. Shah

Matt Mustin said...

No idea about this lineup at all.

1. Savage
2. Quinn
3. Dreyfuss
4. Shah
5. Pacino (I'll bet I'm wrong about this, but we'll see)

Matt Mustin said...

You know, the more I think about it, the more grossed out I am that they were really just trying to milk Boseman's passing for a tearjerker ending.

Robert MacFarlane said...

This is probably the Klonopin talking, but: PFHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, oh what a fuck up. Breaking protocol to set up for a Boseman finale in a naked act of manipulative cynicism, absolutely blowing up in their faces.

1. Savage
2. Dreyfuss
3. Quinn
4. Shah
5. Pacino

Louis Morgan said...

Matt:

It also double backfired on the producers, since McDormand also used up all her energy on the best picture speech rather than her actress win.

Michael Patison said...

Absolutely no idea here.
1. John Savage
2. Anthony Quinn
3. Richard Dreyfuss
4. Naseeruddin Shah
5. Al Pacino

Matt Mustin said...

What people should ACTUALLY be mad about regarding the Oscars is Jessica Walter getting snubbed from the In Memoriam.

Anonymous said...

Since she died in 2021 won't she be up next year?

Anonymous said...

Never mind Cloris and Cicely were there

Bryan L. said...

For the record, I’m actually thrilled that Hopkins won an Oscar for a GOAT performance. I just wish it wasn’t undercut by several of the factors that have been mentioned here already.

One other thing: the producers had to have taken note that Hopkins himself hadn’t shown up to any of the previous awards shows, even virtually. Placing Best Actor last only gave a greater risk of the show ending on a “Eh, it’s over” note, which is what ended up happening.

Matt Mustin said...

Anonymous: DMX was in there too.

Calvin Law said...

On one hand, that was a depressing note to end on (just in terms of the cynical way they tried to manipulate the structure). On the other hand, Hopkins gave a GOAT performance and seeing the photos of McDormand, Kaluuya and Youn together does put a smile on my face.

Luke Higham said...

1. Quinn
2. Savage
3. Shah
4. Dreyfuss
5. Pacino

Luke Higham said...

1980
Films To Watch
The Stunt Man (Re-Watch for O'Toole)
Atlantic City (Re-Watch for Lancaster)
Shōgun
Berlin Alexanderplatz (If you have the time)
Playing For Time (Vanessa Redgrave)
Little Lord Fauntleroy (TV film/Jack Gold/Alec Guinness)
From The Life Of The Marionettes (TV/Ingmar Bergman)
Heaven's Gate
Lion Of The Desert
Babylon
The Last Metro
The Fog
Inferno (Dario Argento)
Alexander The Great (Theo Angelopoulos)
Brubaker
Bad Timing
Gloria (Gena Rowlands)
Resurrection (Ellen Burstyn)
Private Benjamin
Stardust Memories
Permanent Vacation
The Idolmaker
American Gigolo
Loulou
9 To 5
My American Uncle
The Long Riders
Used Cars
Hopscotch
Urban Cowboy
The King And The Mockingbird
Bizalom (Istvan Szabo)
The Nest (Ana Torrent)
Cannibal Holocaust (I dare you)
Maniac
City Of The Living Dead
Christmas Evil
Every Man For Himself
Return Of The Secaucus 7
The Orchestra Conductor (Wajda)
Fame
Shogun Assassin
Somewhere In Time
Stir Crazy
City Of Women (Fellini)
The Watcher In The Woods
The Formula
Touched By Love
The Jazz Singer

Matt Mustin said...

Luke: I don't know if he really needs to watch The Jazz Singer.

Luke Higham said...

Matt: It's last on the list for a reason. Anyway those Globe nominations do give some incentive.

Anonymous said...

The way Golden Globes, Critic's Choice and SAG went 0/6 for the lead categories, and only SAG got both supporting wins right, for better or for worse, we are truly in the BAFTA age (Parasite and Jojo Rabbit for screnplay last year, Olivia Colman and Rami Malek in 2018, Mark Rylance in 2015)

Luke Higham said...

And on The Oscars, Hopkins winning and no showing was hilarious. What a way to end the show.

Anonymous said...

Luke: It's that and Joaquin Phoenix's clear indifference to the whole thing that did it for me lol.
To think they utterly ruined what should've been Hopkins' crowning moment (even if he was a no-show) as the oldest acting winner ever...

Calvin Law said...

As Louis said, that was entirely the fault of the producers and no one else. Honestly I feel like Joaquin did the only thing he could've.

Matt Mustin said...

What did Phoenix do other than read the name?

Luke Higham said...

Louis: And re-watches for Thompson and Hopkins if either one could possibly go up.

Glenn said...

Luke, your rating predictions.

Luke Higham said...

Quinn - 5
Savage - 5
Shah - 4.5
Dreyfuss - 3.5/4 (No offence guys but I don't know why you're putting so much faith in him, A razzie nomination prevents me from believing him to be anything more than good)
Pacino - 3.5

Matt Mustin said...

Luke: I don't put any stock in the Razzies at all. Zero.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

1. Savage
2. Quinn
3. Shah
4. Dreyfuss
5. Pacino

Anonymous said...

Matt: I agree. I remember that they nominated the shining for worst director and worst actress.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

As for the Oscars, I'm overjoyed by most of their choices (especially Hopkins), but I truly did want Mulligan to take it. I guess BAFTAs are the strongest precursor to look out for now, even in an awards season like this.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Also, if anyone wants to check out Sparsh, it's up on YouTube. Would love to get another opinion on Shah's performance before Louis reviews him.

Glenn said...

1. Quinn
2. Savage
3. Shah
4. Dreyfuss
5. Pacino

Luke Higham said...

Matt: Has any Razzie nominated performance been higher than a 4 though. That's why I'm pessimistic.

Tim said...

1) Quinn
2) Shah
3) Savage
4) Pacino
5) Dreyfuss

Calvin Law said...

Tahmeed: I'm going to give it a watch, as with the other performances in this lineup before I do my rankings.

Calvin Law said...

1. Best Supporting Actress: Youn Yuh-jung - 'Minari'
2. Best Sound: 'Sound of Metal'
3. Best Director: Chloé Zhao - 'Nomadland'
4. Best Actor: Anthony Hopkins - 'The Father'
5. Best Supporting Actor: Daniel Kaluuya - 'Judas and the Black Messiah'
6. Best Original Screenplay: 'Promising Young Woman'
7. Best Picture: 'Nomadland'
8. Best Adapted Screenplay: 'The Father'
9. Best International Film: 'Another Round'
10. Best Actress: France McDormand - 'Nomadland'
11. Best Original Score: 'Soul'
12. Best Production Design: 'Mank'
13. Best Animated Short: 'If Anything Happens I Love You'
14. Best Animated Feature: 'Soul'
15. Best Editing: 'Sound of Metal'
16. Best Documentary Short: 'Colette'
17. Best Visual Effects: 'Tenet'
18. Best Costume Design: 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'
19. Best Original Song: 'Fight For You'
20. Best Makeup/Hairstyling: 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'
21. Best Cinematography: 'Mank'
22. Best Live Action Short: 'Two Distant Strangers'
23. Best Documentary Feature: 'My Octopus Teacher'

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: Your thoughts on Al Pacino in Cruising.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Thoughts on the West Side Story trailer.

Luke Higham said...

Louis:

Lion Of The Desert (170 min cut)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XP5kAIYliKM

And please watch the 216 min cut of Heaven's Gate. You might find it on the Criterion Channel.

Anonymous said...

Louis: What are your updated top ten best actor winners and updated top ten supporting actress winners?

Maciej said...

1.Quinn
2.Shah
3.Savage
4.Dreyfuss
5.Pacino

Calvin Law said...

Luke: I think he’s good in it, but I dunno everything I remember about that film comes down to just how...horny it is. I’m sorry guys, I’ll probably give a rewatch to give more intelligent thoughts.

Thomas said...

1. Quinn
2. Savage
3. Shah
4. Dreyfuss
5. Pacino

Soderbergh should hang his head in shame.

RatedRStar said...

1. Quinn
2. Savage
3. Shah
4. Dreyfuss
5. Pacino

BRAZINTERMA said...

5º Al Pacino
4º Richard Dreyfuss
3º Naseeruddin Shah
2º John Savage
1º Anthony Quinn

Robert MacFarlane said...

I don’t think Soderbergh planned Best Actor going last, guys. That felt like a higher-up move.

Anonymous said...

I think Soderbergh and producers saw that Boseman's possible victory could generate that same commotion when DiCaprio won in The Revenant, but it ended up being a shot in the foot.
This exchange of performances and the best picture was so meaningless that I see FIFA as making the final game before the 3rd place.

I liked Hopkins thanks this morning and also his tribute to Boseman. I hope that next year Hopkins will appear at the ceremony as a presenter.

Luke Higham said...

It feels bad to compare Best Actor to a 3rd place play-off which apart from an Olympics is the most meaningless game in sports.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: What is the largest gap in quality for you between two performances in a single film?

Tim said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED7_y4jETo0

your thoughts on this scene? Especially, you know, the performance that won?

Bryan L. said...

Louis & Luke: Are we entirely sure that Lion of The Desert is 1980? The only date for that year that shows on IMDb is for a premiere in Spain, as all the others are 1981. Not sure where that falls under the release date rules, since it might’ve just been a premiere and not an official public theatrical release.

Luke Higham said...

I watched the in memoriam segment and Jesus Christ. Couldn't give them 5 fucking seconds each. The worst I've ever seen, BAFTA reigns supreme.

Luke Higham said...

Bryan: I'm pretty sure it is, Spain isn't even mentioned again after going into 1981.

Luke Higham said...

Bryan: And if it were a festival, it would've said. Also unlike The Ox-Bow Incident, Madrid is a more prominent city than St. Louis, Missouri.

Luke Higham said...

And limited theatrical releases aren't ineligible.

Luke Higham said...

Spain geographically are quite close to Libya who financed it.

Shaggy Rogers said...

1. Quinn
2. Savage
3. Dreyfuss
4. Shah
5. Pacino

Bryan L. said...

Luke: Fair enough.

Regarding Soderbergh, the Best Actor thing probably wasn’t his choice to make either...but I have to imagine he still had a large say in how the ceremony was structured/set up. He wouldn’t have agreed to produce the show if he was only going to be a yes-man.

Also, did anyone else notice that the show still lasted over three (3) hours long despite having a lot of the usual stuff trimmed out? (Clips, jokes, montages, skits, etc, though they weren’t completely absent either.)

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Was the In Memoriam tribute the worst you've ever seen and what did you think of BAFTA's.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Of course they're remaking Another Round with DiCaprio. Of fucking course they are.

Matt Mustin said...

Bryan: The length is because there's a lot of awards and there's 10 minutes of commercials after each one.

Luke Higham said...

Oh fuck off.

Seriously, they couldn't wait two minutes.

Matthew Brown said...

1. Quinn
2. Savage
3. Shah
4. Dreyfuss
5. Pacino

Good to be back.

Louis Morgan said...

Although I have stayed away from Twitter, easy for me as I never go to twitter, I have been overjoyed by how many, who have actually seen the film, are paying nothing but respects for Hopkins's all time great turn.

Luke:

Looks like the 61 film causing me to go...why?

Anonymous:

Actor:

F. Murray Abraham - Amadeus
Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood
Daniel Day-Lewis - My Left Foot
Peter Finch - Network
Alec Guinness - The Bridge on the River Kwai
Anthony Hopkins - The Father
William Hurt - Kiss of the Spider Woman
Ray Milland - The Lost Weekend
Jack Nicholson - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
George C. Scott - Patton

Supporting Actress, Youn might not *quite* break into my top ten winners, though with time she might.

Tahmeed:

Probably...

Greg Cruttwell - David Thewlis - Naked

Tim:

For me, this is kind of what I hate about the film, this as it's certainly quite loud but I don't think particularly pointed. I actually do like Spacey's performance because I do think there is some nuance there, but still the whole tone is just overwrought. Kind of trying to be funny in a satirical way, while also being dramatic, and I don't think it really works as either.

Luke:

It was THE worst. Just terrible and disrespectful to so many legends. The BAFTA one shows how it is done, and puts the Oscars one to complete shame.

Robert:

Of course they are...why....anyway...look forward to the Oscar winning performance by the guy in Thomas Bo Larsen's part.

Anonymous said...

What is your top 10 romantic pairings in film?

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

I watched Chariots of Fire instead of the Oscars last night. It was a very enjoyable movie and wonderfully made. I'll need to think of the performances, though.

Dreading watching the actual Paris Olympics of 1924 if the other one I've seen is anything to go by haha.

Anonymous said...

Also what is your top 10 supporting actress wins?

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: I've seen some ridiculous pushback against Hopkins on Facebook, which have gone in a predictably ugly direction given the Academy's history over certain snubs and omissions. As you said, I'm sure those bozos haven't seen The Father.

On another note, could I have your thoughts on this scene from Filth? https://youtu.be/ry4OytlcLA8

David Jones said...

1. Quinn
2. Savage
3. Shah
4. Dreyfuss
5. Pacino

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

I'm fairly sure I've given that before.

Anonymous:

Please refer to my previous remarks.

Tahmeed:

Oh I have no doubts such stupidity is going on. I will say any accusations around the choice for Hopkins though are particularly misguided as this was one of the most "performance based" wins of all time, since Hopkins wasn't campaigning, there was no specific push for him in terms of other factors, there was no reason to reward him other than based on the fact that you thought he was the best. (Side Note: Loved Hopkins short, simple but sweet acceptance speech.)

One of my favorite scenes of acting from McAvoy, this as he delivers a real vulnerability and reflection in Bruce's reflections. This even as this moment of clarity "I think they left me", McAvoy shows the man himself doesn't really know, and there is just such a broken man beneath it all. McAvoy is fantastic in bringing such genuine pathos and humanity within the reprehensible man.

Anonymous said...

Louis what would be your ranking of the Oscar wins based on quality?

Grady Tripp said...

Hi! I can't find the Judas and the Black Messiah actors in the overall lead ranking of 2020, nor in the supporting list. Where would you place them?

Luke Higham said...

Grady: They're 2021 by his rules.

Luke Higham said...

Bryan: Your ratings and thoughts on Pacino in Cruising and Gere in American Gigolo.

Grady Tripp said...

Ah, thank you, Luke! I see that IMDb has it listed as 2021 as well – makes me wonder how it ended up in the 2020 Oscars now.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

1. Anthony Hopkins - The Father (Best Actor)
2. Another Round (Best International Feature)
3. Sound of Metal (Best Sound Mixing)
4. Youn Yuh-jung - Minari (Best Supporting Actress)
5. Promising Young Woman (Original Screenplay)
6. The Father (Adapted Screenplay)
7. Chloe Zhao - Nomadland (Best Director)
8. Frances McDormand - Nomadland (Best Actress)
9. Soul (Best Score)
10. Daniel Kaluuya - Judas and the Black Messiah (Best Supporting Actor)
11. Mank - (Best Production Design)
12. Nomadland (Best Picture)
13. Sound of Metal (Best Film Editing)
14. Soul (Best Animated Feature)
15. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Best Costume Design)
16. Tenet (Best Visual Effects)
17. Mank (Best Cinematography)
18. If Anything Happens I love You (Best Animated Short)
19. My Octopus Teacher (Best Documentary Feature)
20. "Fight For You" - Judas and the Black and Messiah (Best Song)
21. Two Distant Strangers (Live Action Short)
22. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Best Makeup and Hair-styling)

Probably one of the very best set of winners we've ever had, as 16 and up I'd categorize from very good to great, and only Ma Rainey's makeup win would I call actively bad.

Bryan L. said...

Luke: I’d give Pacino a strong 3.5 at least. The film doesn’t really give him a great role to really sink his teeth into, though he does have some good moments.

As for Gere, maybe a 3.5 as well. He doesn’t give a truly memorable performance, which there may have been potential for, but he’s decent overall.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Was hoping you'd like If Anything Happens I Love You more, it completely devastated me when I watched it even while knowing the reveal.

8000S said...

Louis: Supposedly Lean had Brando in mind to play Major Doryan, and he actually accepted, but had to drop out. Burton, Harris, and O'Toole were also considered. Not sure if he was considered, but Tom Courtenay would have been my personal choice to play Doryan.

Lean also had Scofield and Guinness in mind for Shaughnessy and Father Collins.

Thoughts?

Louis Morgan said...

Tahmeed:

Although I wouldn't fault anything about the film, I can't say I love it when my reaction to the revelation was probably the exact opposite of what was intended.

8000's:

I mean anyone would've been better than Jones. Brando was in his indulgent period, but perhaps Lean could've gotten something better out of him. Burton, Harris and O'Toole also would've been better choice, I think Harris would've been ideal of those three.

Scofield is easy to see as Shaughnessy, being amazing might I add, quiet discontent is something he did brilliantly. Guinness would've also been terrific as Collins but I'm glad Howard played the part.

HTT said...

Sorry, a bit late to the party, but I predict:

5. Pacino
4. Dreyfuss
3. Shah
2. Savage
1. Quinn